Kunduz: Protest camp removed as vote recount begins

KUNDUZ (Pajhwok): A number of unsuccessful Wolesi Jirga candidates in northern Kunduz province have removed their protest camp with the start of recounting votes cast at some polling stations.

Earlier, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) had announced initial results of the parliamentary polls from Kunduz, where seven men and two women were declared successful.

Subsequently, the losing candidates and around a thousand supporters erected the protest tent in front of the election commission’s office. They demanded votes cast in the Oct Wolesi Jirga elections in Kunduz be recounted.

Pajhwok Afghan News released a series of reports about the protesting candidates and the IEC decided later on to recount the votes in Kunduz province.

Ghafoor Hotak, one of the losing runners, told Pajhwok that they had removed the tent after the commission decided to recount the votes cast at some polling stations.

“A delegation, which has arrived from Kabul, will recount the votes in the presence of our observers based on our demand,” he added.

He warned of disrupting the presidential elections if the vote recount process was manipulated.

But the recount has angered some successful candidates. Mohammad Din Hamdard, one of the winners, alleged the recount was in the interest of certain individuals.

“We don’t accept the process of recount at a few polling stations. All Kunduz votes should be recounted,” he stressed, warning of launching demonstrations if the commission did not reverse its decision.